Petunia plant named &#39;Kakegawa S66&#39;

ABSTRACT

A Petunia cultivar particularly distinguished by its pale lavender flower color with purple streaking at the petal base.

GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001]Petunia hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] ‘Kakegawa S66’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

[0003] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Kakegawa S66’. ‘Kakegawa S66’ originated from ahybridization made in 1997 in Kakegawa, Japan. The male parent was aphenotypically fixed F₃ selection from a cross made in 1994 between twobreeding lines named 4UK-1 and P-1a. The female parent of ‘Kakegawa S66’was an F₅ selection known as 89S-829-1a-1a-1a-1, originating from adwarf multiflora breeding gene pool. F₁ seed was obtained from thiscross in 1997.

[0004] Two hundred F₁ plants from the 1997 cross were transplanted tothe field in Salinas, Calif. during the summer of 1998. Seven lines wereselected for further evaluation and vegetatively propagated. The sevenlines were propagated again in 1999 and evaluated for trueness to typeand ease of propagation. Final selection of one line was made inSalinas, Calif. during the summer of 1999. The line was established as‘Kakegawa S66’, and determined to have its characteristics firmly fixed.

[0005] ‘Kakegawa S66’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics after three years and five cycles of vegetativepropagation and this novelty is firmly fixed. The variety hasdemonstrated stability during this time and has no inherent variation oroff-types.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

[0006] This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows blooms, and foliage of the plant in full color,the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

[0007]FIG. 1 shows the mature inflorescence;

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the entire plant approximately twelve weeks aftertransplanting a rooted cutting in a six-inch pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

[0009] The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Kakegawa S66’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. Data was collected on plants in 15 cm diameter potsabout twelve weeks after rooted cuttings were transplanted. Colorreferences are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (RHS).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

[0010] Classification:

[0011]Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.

[0012]Commercial.—Petunia.

[0013] Parentage:

[0014]Female parent.—breeding line 89S-829-1a-1a-1a-1 (not patented).

[0015]Male parent.—F₃ selection from cross of breeding lines 4UK-1 andP-1a (not patented).

[0016] Environmental conditions for plant growth: Plants were propagatedfrom vegetative cuttings, and grown individually in 15 cm diameterplastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Potscontained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizercontaining 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18% potassium was applied infour, daily irrigations. The fifth irrigation was made withnon-fertilized water. Pots were top-dressed with a slow releasefertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18% potassium. Thetypical average air temperature was 24 C.

[0017] Growth:

[0018]Habit.—branching, mounding.

[0019]Form.—descending.

[0020]Plant Size.—91 cm total diameter and 76 cm total height when threeplants are grown in a 50 cm diameter hanging basket for 7-8 weeks.

[0021]Flowering habit.—indeterminate.

[0022]Time to bloom from propagation.—4-6 weeks after rooting when grownin 10-15 cm diameter plastic pots.

[0023]Life Cycle.—annual.

[0024] Stems:

[0025]Color.—yellow-green (RHS 145A).

[0026]Description.—round, pubescent.

[0027]Diameter.—2 to 3 mm.

[0028]Internode length.—4.0 cm.

[0029] Leaves:

[0030]Arrangement.—opposite.

[0031]Apex.—mucronate.

[0032]Base.—oblique.

[0033]Color.—upper surface is green (RHS 137B) and lower surface isgreen (RHS 138B).

[0034]Margin.—entire.

[0035]Size.—length is 4.8 cm at full expansion and width is 2.5 cm atfull extension.

[0036]Shape.—ovate.

[0037]Texture.—coarse.

[0038]Venation.—pinnate.

[0039]Pubescence.—present, clear.

[0040] Flowers:

[0041]Bud color.—Yellow-green (RHS 149B).

[0042]Bud shape.—Ovate.

[0043]Bud surface.—Extensively pubescent.

[0044]Calyx.—5 sepals; 2 cm×8 mm (length×width); free.

[0045]Corolla.—5 petals, fused.

[0046]Flower diameter.—6.0-6.5 cm.

[0047]Fragrant.—yes.

[0048]Inflorescence type.—solitary.

[0049]Pistil.—compound.

[0050]Ovary.—superior, parietal placentation.

[0051]Stamens.—5 total with two long and three short; white (RHS 155C).

[0052]Peduncle.—1.5 cm×1 mm (length×width); pubescent.

[0053]Petal color.—Limbs: upper — purple (RHS 77B); lower — purple (RHS76B) with yellow-green (RHS 145B) veins. Tube — Inner — green (RHS 144D)with purple (RHS 77A) veins; Outside is yellow-green (RHS 144B) withgreen (RHS 140A) veins.

[0054]Petal pubescence.—absent.

[0055]Tube throat diameter.—7 mm.

[0056]Pollen color.—White (RHS 155C).

[0057]Produces seed.—Yes.

[0058] Disease and insect resistance: No susceptibility to diseases orinsects noted to date.

[0059] Comparison with known cultivars: ‘Kakegawa S66’ is a distinctvariety of petunia owing to its pale lavender flower color and purplestreaking at the petal base. ‘Kakegawa S66’ is most similar to thevariety ‘Cascadia Charme’ however there are numerous differences asshown in the table below. Characteristics ‘Kakegawa S66’ ‘CascadiaCharme’ Petal Shape Rounded Pointed Flow Vein Color Yellow-green (RHS145B) Yellow-green (RHS with purple (RHS 76A) 145B) with no streaksstreaks Flower Diameter 6.0-6.5 cm 7.0-8.5 cm Leaf Width 2.5 cm 5.5 cmLeaf Length 4.8 cm 7.0-8.5 cm

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia as shown anddescribed herein.